Mortality of Elderly Mentally Retarded Persons in California

Abstract

We examined the mortality experiences of 87,352 mentally retarded persons who were receiving services from the State of California between March 1984 and October 1987. Our purpose was to examine how demographic, diagnostic, and adaptive behavior characteristics were related to the mortality of older retarded people in comparison to their younger counterparts. The findings revealed that persons with Down's syndrome among other diagnostic categories, for example, infection and intoxication, unknown prenatal influences, and so on, had a relatively high mortality rate after age 55. Other characteristics related to high mortality among elderly retarded people included residence type, mobility, eating, and toileting skills. Of particular interest was the finding that regression in mobility, eating, or toileting skills among the older clients was associated with unusually elevated mortality rates.